Fountain Valley golf coach strives to build program

The Fountain Valley High School boys golf team warms up around the putting green before the start of its match against Lakewood on Monday. MIGUEL VASCONCELLOS, FOR THE REGISTER

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Fountain Valley High School boys golf coach Carter Keyser is hoping things will begin to look up for the Barons' golf program. MIGUEL VASCONCELLOS, FOR THE REGISTER

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Fountain Valley High School boys golf coach Carter Keyser makes his way down the first hole of the Skylinks golf course in Long Beach during Monday's match-up against Lakewood. MIGUEL VASCONCELLOS, FOR THE REGISTER

Carter Keyser wants a reputation. Not for himself, but for his golf program.

Keyser is the fifth-year coach of Fountain Valley High's girls golf team and first-year coach of the boys team, which began its nonleague season in late February.

In addition to taking on the tasks associated with managing two squads during two separate seasons, Keyser is working year-round to turn the Barons into a contending program in a deep Sunset League.

"The Sunset League is brutal," Keyser said. "It's one of the toughest leagues in the county. Los Al, Marina, Newport Harbor – every year, they roll out good teams."

Keyser has coached the boys junior varsity team for the past seven years. During that time, he has seen the evolution of youth golf programs in the area, but says they're still not on par with the majority of strong amateur golfers at other Sunset League schools.

"Meadowlark Country Club, which feeds into Marina, has a very good program," Keyser said. "Los Al, they get kids from Old Ranch Country Club in Seal Beach. Newport, they get them from Big Canyon, Newport Beach and Santa Ana Country Clubs. Mile Square Golf Course is great to us, but I'm not sure they have the junior programs that those others do."

According to Keyser, seldom does Fountain Valley acquire seasoned freshman players similar to Marina, which Keyser says had five contending freshmen during the 2012 season.

Lack of freshman play is a major reason why the Barons won only a single Sunset League dual meet in 2012.

"A lot of our freshmen are just starting their game," Keyser said. "They're not total beginners, but they're not really experienced. We don't rely on them until they're juniors or seniors."

Keyser also pointed to the expensive nature of golf as a reason why players lack experience entering high school.

Unlike basketball or football, practicing golf on a decent course often requires membership to a country club. Those who can afford it tend to go to high schools with prestigious programs, so as to carry on the sport in a competitive program.

"Golf is not a February to May sport," Keyser said. "To be good, you need to play year-round. You need tournament experience. I tell the kids, 'You can't go a week without picking up a club.' But it's time and money. Golf isn't cheap. If you want to play in a tournament, it's not free. To pick up a club and go hit, it's not free. And sometimes, people just don't have it."

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